"I’m not sure whether to be enthralled or appalled by the trawl fisheries of southern India. Probably both. I’ve spent the past week hanging about fishing communities of Tamil Nadu. It’s been a considerable education, even for somebody used to Asian fisheries. I’ve been particularly struck by the amount of miscellaneous marine life that goes off to chicken feed.” Amanda Vincent, UBC Professor and Project Seahorse Director.

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Seahorses are flagship species for a wide range of marine conservation issues, including overfishing and destructive fishing practices, seafilling, pollution, and much more. Learn about these iconic animals, the threats they face, and how you can help us to protect them.

IN FOCUS

Did you know? Trawling is one of the most destructive fishing practices there is. One of the most effective things you can do to help save seahorses — and protect vital marine habitats around the world — is to avoid eating farmed or trawled shrimp.

STORIES FROM THE FIELD

In 2013, a team of marine scientists and wildlife photographers from Project Seahorse and iLCP spent two weeks documenting a rare and threatened double-barrier reef in the Philippines. This is what they saw.

“We found that the influence from small-scale fisheries is far from small,” said Jennifer Selgrath, lead author who completed the research as a PhD student with UBC’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and Project Seahorse. “In our case study in the Philippines, we found that the fisheries have become unsustainable because there are so many people trying to catch a limited number of fish and invertebrates.”

Dr. Amanda Vincent has been appointed to the Steering Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC). She will serve as the Committee’s global marine expert, and will also Chair its Marine Conservation Subcommittee.